Matchweek 34 of the 2021/22 EPL season revealed the differing sides of Manchester, and gave the best indication yet who’ll grab the last Champions League spot.
Here’s how it looked for punters:
Gunners back with a bang
After a horror fortnight that included losses to Crystal Palace and Brighton, Arsenal are back with a bang. Within the space of three days, the Gunners peeled off victory against Chelsea and then, on Saturday, Man United with a dominant 3-1 win. Mikel Arteta’s men started $2.10 favourites at the Emirates ($3.72 at -1.0), and heaped further misery on Manchester United’s season. The win sees them seize the driver’s seat in the EPL Top 4 race after North London rivals Tottenham ($1.91 pre-game) were held by Brentford. With a two-point lead, and five games to go, fate is back in the Gunners hands as they bid for their first taste of Champions League football since 2016-17.
Arsenal will be playing Champions League football next season as things stand.
Trust the process 🧠 pic.twitter.com/Mwsw3vtFZQ
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) April 23, 2022
The differing sides of Manchester
It was another inept performance from United that, save for a promising spell early in the second half, suggested they are well and truly done in EPL season 2021-22. Strangely, prior to the clash Ralf Rangnick’s men were somehow still in Top 4 calculation given Arsenal, Tottenham AND West Ham had slipped up in recent weeks. After the final whistle, though, it was officially curtains on their season. A horrible campaign for one of the world’s biggest clubs.
Six-point plan to get Man Utd back to where they want to be… Culture Change is a MUST!
— Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) April 23, 2022
The blue side of Manchester, however, was buzzing. A dominant 5-1 victory at home to Watford for Pep Guardiola’s side ($1.12 pre-game) keeps them a point clear atop the EPL table. Pre-game, the Sky Blues were $3.05 to cover a -3.0 handicap, but they did exactly that in another clinical performance. While their lead over Liverpool is paper thin, it’s hard to see them slipping up with five games to go this season.
Gabriel Jesus has become only the second #ManCity player to be directly involved in five goals in a single #PL game (four goals, one assist vs Watford), after @aguerosergiokun scored five vs Newcastle in October 2015. 🖐️🇧🇷 @ManCity pic.twitter.com/AKV2OpSAM3
— City Xtra (@City_Xtra) April 23, 2022
Derby success keeps Reds in the hunt
Liverpool didn’t have it all their way in the Merseyside derby on Sunday. And despite starting strong $1.18 favourites at home against Everton, were made to work for their 2-0 win. (The margin was $6.61 in Palmerbet’s ‘correct score’ market pre-game). They remain a solitary point behind City in the race for the title. With five games to go, here is both sides’ run home:
Manchester City ($1.45 for the 2021-22 EPL title): Leeds, Newcastle, Wolverhampton, West Ham, Aston Villa
Liverpool ($2.63 for the 2021-22 EPL title): Newcastle, Tottenham, Aston Villa, Southampton, Wolverhampton
Even though they are competing vs one of the best teams in the last few years in Man City, it must be so exciting being a Liverpool fan the last couple of years. What Klopp has created around the club it’s actually amazing and you can feel the energy in every game. A role model.
— Cesc Fàbregas Soler (@cesc4official) April 24, 2022
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